Memphis, TN - Travis Sanders, 40, has been sentenced to 204 months imprisonment as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 23, 2018, Sanders and a male victim were involved in a verbal altercation near Latham Avenue and Lucy Street, when Sanders threatened to kill the victim. Sanders then asked an unknown male to bring him his gun. The unknown male brought a gun to Sanders and he fired shots at the victim. The victim ran away to a nearby MLGW employee working in the area who drove him away from the scene. The MLGW employee called police and the victim escaped uninjured.
Memphis Police responded to the scene and recovered an Intratec 9mm caliber pistol from an abandoned apartment across the street. The firearm was loaded with five rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. This was the same firearm described by the victim. Officers also recovered three 9mm spent shell casings on the scene.
While Sanders was in custody at the Shelby County Jail, he attempted to get others to dissuade the shooting victim from coming to court for the state court proceedings.
The defendant’s lengthy prior criminal history includes: two convictions for aggravated assault; one conviction for coercion of a witness; one conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to sell; one conviction for being felon in possession of a firearm, and multiple misdemeanor convictions. As a result of these prior felony convictions, Sanders was determined by the Court to be an Armed Career Criminal, and subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney D.Michael Dunavant said, "This is precisely the type of violent gun offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis. This brazen and recidivist violent behavior must be met with swift and significant punishment. As a result of this conviction and 17 year sentence, the citizens of Memphis and West Tennessee are safer. Gun Crime is Max Time."
On Jan. 18, 2019, the defendant pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On July 29, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Sanders to 204 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
U.S. Attorney Marques Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
